Two Cases of Basilar Artery Occlusion in Childhood

Abstract

Two children suddenly became unconscious, one in the course of septicemia following burns, the other during apparently normal health. Death occurred 5 days and 10 weeks respectively from the onset of coma. At autopsy occlusion of the region of the anterior end of the basilar artery was demonstrated, with softening of parts of the midbrain and thalamus. In the second case no explanation of the cause of the obstruction could be offered. A brief review of the literature is given to indicate the rarity of basilar artery occlusion in children.